UIUC

UIUC SAT and ACT Requirements

UIUC is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. The middle 50% of enrolled first-year students scored 1310 to 1520 on the SAT and 30 to 34 on the ACT.

2026-27 policy

Test-Optional

SAT middle 50%

1310–1520

ACT middle 50%

30–34

Acceptance rate

42%

UIUC SAT scores by section

Section25th percentile75th percentile
Reading and Writing650740
Math660780
Total13101520
ACT Composite3034

The total is the sum of the section percentiles, the standard way to estimate a middle 50% for the combined score.

Where your score puts you

  • Below 1310: lower than three quarters of enrolled students. A retake has the most upside here, and at a test-optional school you can also leave the score off.
  • 1310 to 1520: in line with the class. The rest of your application decides it.
  • Above 1520: higher than three quarters of enrolled students. Testing is no longer what holds the application back.

Keep these numbers

Email me UIUC's score ranges

The ranges on this page, plus a link to compare them with every other college we track.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently asked questions

Does UIUC require the SAT or ACT?

UIUC is test-optional for the 2026-27 cycle. 'Illinois is test-optional. You can choose whether to include ACT or SAT scores.' Applicants who omit test scores may need to submit an English-language proficiency test instead (international applicants).

What SAT score do you need for UIUC?

The published range is not a cutoff. Among enrolled first-year students, a quarter scored below 1310, half scored between 1310 and 1520, and a quarter scored above 1520. A score at or above 1520 puts you ahead of most of the class on testing; a score below 1310 works against you.

What ACT score do you need for UIUC?

The middle 50% of enrolled students scored 30 to 34 on the ACT. On the official conversion table that is an SAT 1370 to 1500.

Score ranges: College Scorecard API — U.S. Department of Education (api.data.gov) and Editorial overrides layer (overrides.json) — Common Data Set & institutional sources. They describe students who enrolled, not everyone admitted. Test policy: UIUC admissions, verified for 2026-27.